Breaking News: A Summer Reading Frenzy Is Sweeping the Okanagan!

Have you heard the news?

If you’ve been listening to local radio lately, you may have caught one of the ORL’s new Summer Reading Club commercials. Since launching, the playful ads have been making quite a splash, introducing listeners to submarine captains, underwater explorers, and even a breaking news report about a “reading frenzy” spreading across the region. The commercials may be fictional, but the excitement behind them certainly isn’t.

Before you keep reading, have a listen to the campaign that has everyone talking.

Listen to the Summer Reading Club Radio Campaign

Summer Reading Discovery:

 

Summer Reading News Report:

Summer Reading Submarine:

 

Dive Into Summer Reading Club 2026

This year’s Summer Reading Club theme, Under the Sea, invites readers of every age to explore mysterious ocean trenches, colourful coral reefs, incredible sea creatures, and adventures that stretch far beyond the shoreline. Best of all, participation is completely free, and you don’t need a library card to join.

Reading Adventures for Every Age

Summer Reading Club is designed to grow with readers of every age.

Little Ones (Infant to Age 5) can enjoy daily reading together using the official BC Summer Reading Club Reading Log while also completing the Slippery Fish Read-to-Me Tracker for a chance to win exciting prizes.

Kids (Ages 6–12) can earn their Summer Reading Club medal while tackling the ORL’s Under the Sea Challenge Tracker, filled with creative activities, science, exploration, language learning, art projects, audiobooks, and much more.

Teens (Ages 13–18) can explore the Deep Sea Challenge Tracker, completing reading prompts and creative challenges inspired by the different layers of the ocean.

Adults aren’t left out either. The ORL’s Adult Summer Reading Club Challenge encourages readers to enjoy books, complete activities, earn tickets, and enter prize draws throughout the summer.

Explore Programs, Presenters, and Ocean Adventures

Summer Reading Club is about much more than reading books. Branches across the ORL are hosting an ocean of exciting programs inspired by this year’s Under the Sea theme, including hands-on activities, special guests, science programs, creative workshops, and family events.

Families can meet The Fossil Guy, Bob O’Donnell, and discover fascinating marine fossils, prehistoric sea creatures, and ancient oceans. Young fossil hunters can even take home a fossilized shark’s tooth while supplies last and enter to win a Fossil Kit.

The adventure continues online with three free presentations:

JAWS: Introducing the Superhero of the Reef explores the surprising world of sharks and coral reef ecosystems.

Arctic Explorers journeys through Arctic wildlife, northern ecosystems, and Indigenous cultures.

Babies! A Journey Through Lifecycles introduces the fascinating ways young animals survive and grow.

Participants in these online presentations are also entered into special prize draws.

Join the Reading Frenzy!

If our radio ads have inspired you to dive into Summer Reading Club, there’s never been a better time to get started. Visit your nearest ORL branch to pick up your reading log or challenge tracker, browse our specially curated summer booklists, register for exciting programs, and discover everything Summer Reading Club has to offer. Sometimes the greatest discoveries aren’t hidden beneath the ocean…they’re waiting on the shelves of your local library.

Need More Help?

Call us at 1-844-649-8127 or email help@orl.bc.ca. Please include as many details as you can about your question, account, or device. This helps us support you more quickly and accurately.

Library card expired? Reach out to your local branch or visit eRenew to renew your membership online—it’s quick and easy.

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